How much does the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) cost and how long does it take?

The fee is about $123 (€110 consular visa fee, plus AIMA's residence-permit fee); €110 for the national visa at the consulate (Order 229/2021). AIMA charges separately for analysing the permit and issuing the card; the amounts are in its fee table (Portaria 307/2023, updated 2026) and run to a few hundred euros per person. External visa centres such as VFS add a service charge. Processing time: 4 weeks to 13 weeks. Consulates aim to decide national visas within 60 days of a complete file but often take longer; booking the appointment can add weeks. The AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival is a second wait of weeks to months.

Can I apply for the Portugal digital nomad visa while I am in Portugal as a tourist?

No. The D8 is a consular visa and must be requested at the Portuguese consulate or visa centre responsible for your country of legal residence. Only the second step, the residence permit, is done in Portugal at AIMA.

Does the Portugal digital nomad visa count toward citizenship?

Yes. Time on the D8 residence permit is legal residence, and Portugal's nationality law allows naturalisation after the statutory residence period with a basic Portuguese test; permanent residence is available after five years.

Digital nomad visa · Europe

Portugal digital nomad visa 2026: requirements and cost

Portugal's D8 residence visa is for remote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Portugal who earn at least four times the national minimum wage, €3,680 a month in 2026. You apply at a Portuguese consulate, enter on a four-month visa, then collect a two-year residence permit from AIMA that renews for three years at a time and counts toward permanent residence.

Official name: Visto de residência para o exercício de atividade profissional prestada de forma remota para fora do território nacional (D8). Facts updated 2026-10-04 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.

Who can apply: Non-EU/EEA citizens; Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen working remotely for an employer or clients established outside Portugal. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa and register locally instead.
Minimum income: $4,131/month; €3,680/month (4× the national minimum wage of €920 in 2026)
Fee: about $123; €110 consular visa fee, plus AIMA's residence-permit fee
Processing time: 4 weeks to 13 weeks
Initial stay: 2 years, renewable
Where to apply: At a consulate; The Portuguese consulate or external visa centre for your country of residence; the residence permit is then requested at any AIMA store in Portugal (an online channel for visa holders is being rolled out).

Not yet reviewed by a person

Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-04. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.

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Who can apply

Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen working remotely for an employer or clients established outside Portugal. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa and register locally instead.

What you need

National visa application form, signed, with two passport photos
Passport valid at least three months beyond the planned stay
Work contract or employer declaration (employees) or company, partnership or service contracts and proof of services rendered (freelancers), from entities outside Portugal
Proof of average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum wage (€3,680 in 2026)
Document attesting your fiscal residence
Criminal-record certificate from your country of residence, apostilled, and consent for a Portuguese criminal-record check
Travel or health insurance covering medical costs and repatriation
Proof of accommodation in Portugal (lease, deed or invitation)
Portuguese tax number (NIF), requested in practice by most consulates

Income proof: Average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum guaranteed monthly remuneration, shown with payslips or invoices and bank statements. €3,680 converted at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-02 (US$1.1225 per euro).

Family: Spouse or partner, minor and dependent children, and dependent parents can apply with you for family-reunification visas or join you once you hold the residence permit; they receive permits tied to yours.

Cost and timeline

Minimum income	$4,131/month€3,680/month (4× the national minimum wage of €920 in 2026)
Fee	about $123€110 for the national visa at the consulate (Order 229/2021). AIMA charges separately for analysing the permit and issuing the card; the amounts are in its fee table (Portaria 307/2023, updated 2026) and run to a few hundred euros per person. External visa centres such as VFS add a service charge.
Processing time	4 weeks to 13 weeksConsulates aim to decide national visas within 60 days of a complete file but often take longer; booking the appointment can add weeks. The AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival is a second wait of weeks to months.
Stay	2 years, renewable

How to apply

At a consulate. The Portuguese consulate or external visa centre for your country of residence; the residence permit is then requested at any AIMA store in Portugal (an online channel for visa holders is being rolled out).

Gather proof of remote work: employment contract or employer declaration, or service contracts and invoices for freelancers, plus a document showing your tax residence outside Portugal.
Show three months of income at or above €3,680 a month with payslips or invoices and bank statements, and get a Portuguese tax number (NIF) and ideally a Portuguese bank account.
Book the consulate or visa-centre appointment, submit the national visa form, photos, passport, criminal-record certificate with apostille, travel insurance and proof of accommodation, and pay €110.
Receive the four-month, two-entry residence visa and travel to Portugal.
Before the visa expires, attend the AIMA appointment with the same proofs and your address declaration to receive the two-year residence permit.

After you arrive

Renewal: The consular visa is valid for four months with two entries; within that window you apply to AIMA for the residence permit, which is issued for two years and renewed for successive three-year periods while you still meet the conditions.

Residence: After five years of legal residence you can apply for a permanent residence permit (basic Portuguese, A2, is required) or for citizenship. Permanent residence is typically possible after 5 years.

Taxes

You become a Portuguese tax resident after 183 days in a 12-month period or by holding a habitual home there. The old NHR regime closed to new entrants in 2024; a narrower IFICI incentive (20% flat rate) exists for listed scientific, research and start-up roles, so most remote workers pay ordinary progressive income tax on worldwide income.

In practice

The D8 is the residence track; Portugal also issues a one-year temporary-stay visa for remote work (up to 12 months, renewable) with the same income rule for people who do not want residency.
Consulate practice varies: many ask for a Portuguese NIF, a Portuguese bank account and a 12-month lease even though the law lists accommodation more loosely.
AIMA backlogs are long; the visa's four-month validity is extended automatically while an appointment is pending, keep the receipt.
Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve have the largest nomad communities; Madeira runs a dedicated digital-nomad village programme in Ponta do Sol.

For your passport

Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.

EU, EEA, CH:You do not need this visa. Enter freely and register your residence at the local câmara municipal within 30 days of passing three months in Portugal.
US, GB, CA, AU, NZ, JP:Visa-free for 90 days in the Schengen area, but you cannot switch to the D8 inside Portugal; apply at the consulate in your country of residence before travelling.
BR, AO, CV, GW, MZ, ST, TL:CPLP citizens can alternatively use the CPLP residence permit, which does not require a prior consular visa, though it does not give Schengen mobility.
All other passports:Apply at the Portuguese consulate responsible for your country of residence; the income rule is the same for every nationality.

Cities in Portugal on Nostos

Funchal (Madeira)
Balanced score 77 · $2,000/month
Ponta Delgada (Azores)
Balanced score 77 · $2,000/month
Cascais
Balanced score 76 · $2,000/month
Faro (Algarve)
Balanced score 75 · $1,719/month
Setúbal
Balanced score 75 · $2,000/month
Lagos (Algarve)
Balanced score 74 · $2,000/month
Lisbon
Balanced score 74 · $2,499/month
Portimão
Balanced score 74 · $2,000/month
Albufeira
Balanced score 73 · $2,000/month
Porto
Balanced score 73 · $2,006/month
Sintra
Balanced score 73 · $2,000/month
Tavira
Balanced score 72 · $2,000/month
Coimbra
Balanced score 72 · $2,049/month
Évora
Balanced score 72 · $2,000/month
Aveiro
Balanced score 72 · $2,000/month
Ericeira
Balanced score 72 · $2,000/month
Nazaré
Balanced score 71 · $2,000/month
Guimarães
Balanced score 71 · $2,000/month
Peniche
Balanced score 71 · $2,000/month
Braga
Balanced score 71 · $2,049/month

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Frequently asked

Who can apply for the Portugal digital nomad visa?: Any non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen working remotely for an employer or clients established outside Portugal. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a visa and register locally instead. Portugal's D8 residence visa is for remote employees and freelancers working for companies outside Portugal who earn at least four times the national minimum wage, €3,680 a month in 2026. You apply at a Portuguese consulate, enter on a four-month visa, then collect a two-year residence permit from AIMA that renews for three years at a time and counts toward permanent residence.
How much income do you need for the Digital nomad residence visa (D8)?: About $4,131 per month (€3,680/month (4× the national minimum wage of €920 in 2026)). Average monthly income over the last three months of at least four times the Portuguese minimum guaranteed monthly remuneration, shown with payslips or invoices and bank statements. €3,680 converted at the ECB reference rate of 2026-10-02 (US$1.1225 per euro).
How much does the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) cost and how long does it take?: The fee is about $123 (€110 consular visa fee, plus AIMA's residence-permit fee); €110 for the national visa at the consulate (Order 229/2021). AIMA charges separately for analysing the permit and issuing the card; the amounts are in its fee table (Portaria 307/2023, updated 2026) and run to a few hundred euros per person. External visa centres such as VFS add a service charge. Processing time: 4 weeks to 13 weeks. Consulates aim to decide national visas within 60 days of a complete file but often take longer; booking the appointment can add weeks. The AIMA residence-permit appointment after arrival is a second wait of weeks to months.
How long can you stay in Portugal on the Digital nomad residence visa (D8), and can it be renewed?: 2 years, renewable. The consular visa is valid for four months with two entries; within that window you apply to AIMA for the residence permit, which is issued for two years and renewed for successive three-year periods while you still meet the conditions.
Does the Digital nomad residence visa (D8) lead to permanent residence in Portugal?: Yes. After five years of legal residence you can apply for a permanent residence permit (basic Portuguese, A2, is required) or for citizenship.
Can family members come with you on the Digital nomad residence visa (D8)?: Spouse or partner, minor and dependent children, and dependent parents can apply with you for family-reunification visas or join you once you hold the residence permit; they receive permits tied to yours.
Do you pay tax in Portugal on the Digital nomad residence visa (D8)?: You become a Portuguese tax resident after 183 days in a 12-month period or by holding a habitual home there. The old NHR regime closed to new entrants in 2024; a narrower IFICI incentive (20% flat rate) exists for listed scientific, research and start-up roles, so most remote workers pay ordinary progressive income tax on worldwide income.
Where do you apply for the Digital nomad residence visa (D8)?: At a consulate: The Portuguese consulate or external visa centre for your country of residence; the residence permit is then requested at any AIMA store in Portugal (an online channel for visa holders is being rolled out).
Can I apply for the Portugal digital nomad visa while I am in Portugal as a tourist?: No. The D8 is a consular visa and must be requested at the Portuguese consulate or visa centre responsible for your country of legal residence. Only the second step, the residence permit, is done in Portugal at AIMA.
Does the Portugal digital nomad visa count toward citizenship?: Yes. Time on the D8 residence permit is legal residence, and Portugal's nationality law allows naturalisation after the statutory residence period with a basic Portuguese test; permanent residence is available after five years.

Sources

Residency: necessary documentation for national visas, Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros, Portal das Comunidades (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Lists the remote-work documents and the four-times-minimum-wage income rule
National visas: general information, Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Four-month, two-entry validity of the residence visa
National visas: fees, Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros (vistos.mne.gov.pt) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · €110 national visa fee
Autorização de residência para o exercício de atividade profissional prestada de forma remota, AIMA, Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Two-year permit renewable for three-year periods; AIMA appointment and documents
Autorização de residência permanente (art. 80.º), AIMA · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Five years of temporary residence and basic Portuguese for permanent residence
Decreto-Lei n.º 139/2025: retribuição mínima mensal garantida para 2026, Diário da República · retrieved 2026-10-04 · €920 minimum wage from 1 January 2026

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